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Lighting is one of the most important parts in 3D visualization rendering. It brings not only the look and feel for the image, but also helps to visualize the design in reality. Many artists will find themselves spending more time with interior lighting to make sure every detail in the room is lit perfectly. Exterior lighting is easier to set up but still challenges the artist.

1. Modeling

Here we have a model of L5’s exterior. The entire model is created based on a CAD plan, then imported into 3D Studio Max and organized into layers.

2. Texturing

Textures and material information are collected and then applied to the model.

All the materials in the scene are Vray materials.

In this scene, besides some basic material, we also apply Vray displacement on the grass to make the render look more realistic and detailed.

For the grass, we use 2D mapping type for Vray DisplacementMod with a grayscale grass bitmap for displacement effects.

3. Camera View Setup

After applying all textures to the model, we set up a couple views and end up with this final view.

4. Lighting

Similar to lighting an interior scene, we start with environment light first. Again, it is a good practice to collect all the reference images about the kind of lighting you want to apply into the scene. In this case, we want to use daylight with yellow sunlight coming down from the right and hitting the whole building’s section. The right part of the scene will be in bluish shadow. Both yellow and blue colors will compliment the image.

Instead of using GI Environment (skylight) in Vray render setting dialogue as we used in interior to create ambient light, we use a different way by creating a semi-dome to simulate the sky.

We apply VrayLightMtl with a Sky bitmap for the dome, and also apply UVW mapping cylindrical type for it as well. The benefit of this method is that it creates more natural-looking ambient light and it has bright and dark areas just like a real sky would look. When applying the bitmap on a VraylightMtl, it will reflect those dark and bright areas on the bitmap onto the object to create a more interesting look for the image.

This method sounds the same as the HDRI method but easier to create and adjust since you can move, rotate or even scale the map on the viewport to suit your lighting look or even reflection on the object. Unlike HDRI, you have to enable the background on your viewport and put in some numbers to get it to look right.

For now, we leave the value of brightness at 1.

After that, we can go ahead and do a test render. We used a very low setting for test rendering images in order to get a quick preview of the image.

>Color mapping: Exponential

>Irradiance map was set to low

>Light cache with Subdivs at 200 and sample size at 0.02

It looks very dark at this point, but we can see some interesting effects on the ambient light. Since we are aiming for a bright-looking day, we need to increase the multiply of the VraylightMtl from 1 to 6.

Do the test again to see how it looks.

This looks better. We get the shadow to look bluish as we wanted. The render’s quality looks really bad due to very low setting of GI, however we will set a higher setting after we get the lighting to look right. This way can save you a lot of time.

Now, after you get the correct look for the ambient, let’s add some sunlight. Again, we use Vray light, Sphere type to simulate the sun, with strong yellow color. The bigger the radius of the light, softer the shadow.

We also add furniture, some plants, flowers and trees to add more details into the scene.

Now, we are ready for the final render.

5. Render Setting For Final Image

For a final render image at 4000 pixel, we change the setting so that it is higher than before to bring more quality to the image.

For GI method, we used Irradiance map for Primary bounces and Light cache for Secondary bounces at a high setting.

For post work, we also rendered out the VrayReflection pass, VraySpecular pass and VrayZDepth pass (you can add these passes by going to Render Elements and click the Add button).

6. Post Work

We use Photoshop for post work. Level adjustments and Color Balance are used to improve the contrast and color for the image.

A real sky background is added for more realism.

Reflection and Specular passes are used to add more reflection and highlight for the image to provide more realistic effects.

We also render out a Vray Dirtpass render so we can use it in Photoshop to boost the shadow.

Some close-up details:

And there it is. We get the lighting as we wanted. It is quite simple as you can see, but it sure is full of challenges to get the right look for the final image. I hope you will get other ideas in lighting an exterior scene as well.

There are a lot of things u didn't mention ;like camera setup ,sun position,etc it would be nice u send me the max file and find out myself about the things missing here my email Abdulex@gmail.com tnx in advance

I noticed that you didn\'t mention the following in your tutorial:
- Exact Location of VrayLight Sphere X,Y,Z coordinates?
- Should the Vray Light be inside or outside the Dome?
- Vray Render Settings
- Exact Radius/Diameter of the Dome
- Your Gamma settings. Are you using LWF or not?
- Are you using default 3ds Max camera or Vray Physical Camera?

Right now, I can\'t get a shadow from the VRay Light

I\'m using LWF right now like 2.2 gamma, etc.. Your VRay LightMtl values is 6. While mine went up to 100 with the sky bitmap on 0.80 gamma (Sky is too white).

So if it\'s not too much of a bother to you, Is it ok if i request the 3ds max file you used in this tutorial? Thanks!

Very nice tutorial. Cleared a few questions i had about exterior lighting.
Since everyone asks for the model could you please send it to me too if it's possible?
I wouldn't mind the practice with a finished model to see if i am able to get the same awesome results you had.
my mail is
doberman_l@hotmail.com

Thanks for giving us this blog. This will provide you a lot of information. ArchLabs presents 3D architectural renderings for exteriors as a professional way to present your projects to investors and customers. For more details simply visit :Archlabs

Hi there, great job and welldone. I tried this by myself but i couldnt get it done right. For example i couldnt get good light contrast.. I will much appreciate if you can email me the 3dmax file (or the link of the max file if you have uploaded it) of this work.

i try months already...but i cant get same effect.. anything miss out in this tutorial ? can anyone willing to share with me this model 3D max file???
i m so sad here...!!! (-_-") my email is jaysonlwf@gmail.com

But I have a question. Did you remove the bottom of semi dome? What did you do exactly and what were the exact settings for the test render. I don't see any texture in my render. Everything is black. Very strange.

Nice tutorial! i followed it and contented with the light and shadows effects but there was one problem, the map/sky materials from the semi-dome(vraylightmat) did not appear and it was dark/black in he background..please give me your great ideas on this matter..thank you very much..

i tried your technique but the vray light doesn't seem to have any effect on the model, how do i get it to work? what camera do you use - a vray camera or a standard camera?
if anyone caould help me with this problem please email me jekson87@hotmail.com
thanks!

You all are so low! Send me the max file, send me the max file.....and so on! Are you fucking insane! I'm sure this man wouldn't post his exelent work here anymore! It's all so good explained, but you don't want to make any effort to think ...

Hey
helo, thx very much I am from India. like u r way of working and the simple way of telling others, the way u described the whole methode is really appreciable,
..from my end a request is thr can u mail me the max file of u r projects..

very nice titorial,but cnnot get th right effect,after the rendering show some messages like scene bounding box is too large,meterial retened over bright or invalid color etc: waht is the problem,can u send the max file

NICE PRESENTATION. BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MODEL IS IN THE DOME. THE MATERIAL OF THE VRAYLIGHTMAT IS ILLUMINATE IN THE MODEL. CAN YOU HELP ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE SEND ME THE .MAX FILE AT teods_dr@yahoo.com.ph THANKS!!!!!!!!

best external lighting technique tutorial i have seen...i am just geting into vray renders recently and have a couple of problems ,i am trying to make the dome work but it won`t work....can you please upld the scene file or give a step by step guide on how to make it...

this is a gr8 tutorial. but i don't gate the images like you.
I can't got idea of light that where to place and which light u actually used.
So i want to be use u r gr8 tutorial so will u pass me u r max file or send me the light palcement idea
thanks.
dipesh sadavarte
gujarat surat.

I do not know jerk, I bought Maya 8.5 and 3ds max 9 and dont know nothihng as in I am below rookie level, Well I do have an imaginary mind but would like some help as in getting to know how to use the tools from both programmes please assist.......

ur lightint style is very goof
i m new to outdoor lighting i got the 3rd and 4th tut
but i havent found the 1st and 2nd can u give me the link of those i ll be very thankful to u ma id is
kamii2cool@hotmail.com